Tennessee Wastewater Operator Practice Exam

What is an identifying characteristic of a manual bar screen?

1. May be located in a bypass channel

2. Single operating cycle

3. Interlocking links, no lower sprocket

4. Efficiently removes hair and stringy material

The correct answer is: May be located in a bypass channel

The identifying characteristic of a manual bar screen is that it may be located in a bypass channel. Manual bar screens are often installed in areas where they can filter out larger materials from the wastewater flow, and bypass channels allow operators to manage flows during maintenance or cleaning activities without interrupting the overall process. This design is practical for facilities wanting to ensure that the primary treatment processes remain unaffected while still providing screening. In contrast, the other characteristics mentioned do not distinctly identify a manual bar screen. A single operating cycle would be more characteristic of an automated mechanism rather than a manual operation, as operators frequently need to engage in multiple cycles of cleaning and operation. Interlocking links without a lower sprocket may describe the design of certain screen types but doesn’t specifically define a manual bar screen, which can have different configurations. While manually operated bar screens can remove various materials, their efficiency at removing hair and stringy substances varies and isn’t a defining trait as compared to other automatic screens designed specifically for that purpose.